All of Malta's Presidents and the Prime Ministers who served since Independence were awarded the Independence 50th Anniversary medal today.  The medals were presented by President Marie-Louise Coleiro Preca in a ceremony at the Palace in Valletta. Posthumous medals were collected by relatives.

Yana Mintoff Bland collected the medal on behalf of her late father, Prime Minister Dom Mintoff, who had strongly protested over the manner how Malta was awarded its independence and struck the day off the list of national holidays.

Alexander Borg Olivier collected the medal for his late father, Prime Minister George Borg Olivier, who achieved the historic milestone for Malta and passed away in 1980. 

The government approved the striking of the medal earlier this year.

The rules state that the medal shall be awarded "to persons  who, throughout these 50 years have contributed towards the development and well being of Malta as a nation and a member of the international community of nations.

The medal was awarded to Sir Anthony Mamo, Anton Buttigieg, Agatha Barbara, Paul Xuereb, Censu Tabone, Ugo Mifsud Bonnici, Guido de Marco, Eddie Fenech Adami, George Abela, George Borg Olivier, Dom Mintoff, Karmenu Mifsud Bonnici, Alfred Sant, Lawrence Gonzi and Joseph Muscat.

Karmenu Mifsud Bonnici did not attend and was not represented.